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4 Accused Of Defrauding Elderly Men

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By RONNIE BLAIR | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 25, 2008

  Susan Latzko

  Christopher Birdsong

  Maria Birdsong

  Stephanie Bautista

HOLIDAY - The Pasco County Sheriff's Office has made arrests in two separate cases in which elderly men reportedly were defrauded by people who befriended them.

In one case, two women threatened to sue an 80-year-old man if he didn't give them $5,000 cash, an arrest report said. They told him one of them fell in his garage and was injured, the report said.

In the other case, three people are accused of persuading a 77-year-old man suffering from dementia to apply for credit cards, an arrest report said. They then tricked him into charging about $30,800 worth of merchandise and services for them, the sheriff's office reported.

Susan Latzko, 55, of 5115 Castile Lane, Holiday, was arrested in connection with both cases. She faces two scheming to defraud charges and also faces a charge of exploitation of the elderly in the case of the 77-year-old man.

Also arrested in that case were Christopher Birdsong, 27, and Maria Birdsong, 23, both of 8512 Siamang Court, New Port Richey. They also face charges of scheming to defraud and exploitation of the elderly.

In the other case, Latzko and Stephanie Bautista, 21, of 5637 Cheyenne Drive, Holiday, are accused of becoming friends with the 80-year-old man, then repeatedly using lies and deception to get money from him, arrest reports said.

Bautista was charged with scheming to defraud.

Latzko and Bautista told the man that Latzko fell in his garage and was seriously injured, reports said. He paid them $5,000 after they threatened to sue, reports said.

Latzko and the Birdsongs were being held in the Land O' Lakes Jail with bail set at $20,000. Bautista was being held in the Land O' Lakes Jail with bail set at $5,000.

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